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Live at 9 with Matt Scalici: Coaching Continuity Edition

Rhett Lashlee Gus Malzahn SEC Championship Game

Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn talk to players during the 2013 SEC Football Championship game between Auburn and Missouri at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, December 7, 2013. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Over the last several years, Alabama has experienced one of the key challenges that comes along with being an elite program in college football. When you've got a good thing, everyone else wants some of what you have, and the best way to get it is by hiring away a key assistant coach. Nick Saban has seen a number of assistants come and go since his
arrival at Alabama, including two assistants who will be coaching
against Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game.

There are steps that can be taken to try and assure stability and continuity on a coaching staff, including making sure they are well-paid, but when a candidate's name is hot enough and he's looking to take his career to the next level, sometimes there's only so much one can do.

Whether it's this year or next, continued success for the Tigers likely means losing assistant coaches along the way and dealing with those changes is one of the keys to long-term success in college football.

Alabama managed to transition between offensive coordinators with relative ease, with the Crimson Tide offense showing moderate statistical improvement after transitioning from Jim McElwain to Doug Nussmeier. Saban has also dealt with losing some of Alabama's top recruiters along the way, including current Florida State assistants Jeremy Pruitt and Sal Sunseri, without missing a beat on the recruiting trail. The Crimson Tide's recruiting is as strong as ever, with the Tide looking to sign a group in February that many analysts believe could be among the most talent-laden classes in history.

When the time comes for Auburn, and it almost certainly will come, will Malzahn be able to make a quick substitution without losing momentum? It's a part of the job that many overlook but one that can be crucial to maintaining Auburn's return to prominence.